Winging it to find a cure for cystic fibrosis

Drew Golden and Blake Stover were busy eating chicken wings as fast as they could during the wing-eating contest at Smoke-E's on Thursday evening. The event was held to raise funds for the cystic fibrosis foundation. (Putnam Sentinel/Nancy Kline)

LEIPSIC — Smoke'E's in Leipsic had a
packed house Thursday night when they hosted a fundraiser for cystic
fibrosis. The fundraiser was in honor of five-month old Evelyn
Tussing, who has cystic fibrosis. Evelyn is the daughter of Aaron
and Kelly Tussing, Leipsic.

“We want to support the foundation as
they do research to find a cure for cystic fibrosis,” said Aaron.
“It's not a high priority disease when research is funded.” Aaron
said he believes they are only a few years away from finding a cure.

Supporters walked around wearing black
t-shirts with butterflies with the symbolic cystic fibrosis purple
ribbon in the center.

“We've already sold 200 shirts,”
Aaron said.

Supporters could buy tickets to enter
for drawings of several tables filled with prizes varying from coffee
makers to jewelry, food, and a large handmade barn.

Smoke-E's also donated a percentage of
their sales from chicken wings toward the cause.

Fourteen competitors sat down during
the fundraiser to see who could eat the most chicken wings. In the
end Drew Golden was able to “out eat” others in the competition
to win a beer sign.